Companion bed



Aug. 2a, 1928. j 1,682,577

. H. B. LITTLEFIELD COMPANION BED Filed April 16, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 o INVENTOR. Harry I). Lifl/efi'e/d BY (MM- r A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 28 1928;

UNITED STATES,

HENRY B. LITTLEFIELD, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO.

COMPANION BED.

Application filed April 16, 1923.

This invention relates to companion beds. More particularly it includes two bed units adapted to co-operate with each other to occupy approximately the same floor space.

In a companion application filed on even date herewith, a building arrangement wherein the beds herein described cooperate to provide'improved housing facilities, has been fully set forth.

This invention relates to the construction of the bed units of an improved type, where- .in one of the units is adapted to be lowered so as to occupy a minimum of space vertically and the other unit is adapted to be raised so as to accommodate beneath the same the first named unit.

It has heretofore been the practice, in order to economize spacein apartment houses and other buildings, to rovide folding beds and beds concealed in c osets and in various temporary and built-in articles of furniture. Buildings have also been made to accommodate beds in special recesses formed in the flooring in certain of the rooms and closets. In many of such arrangements, however, th are is the disadvantage of placing the bed in a portion of the building where it does not receive sufiicient light and air and in certain localities there are regulations to prevent said unsanitary features of apartments with positive regulations that folding beds be placed in outside walls of a building and receive adequate light and air.

In my Patent No. 1,443,582, grant-ed J anuary 30, 1923, I have set forth one means of avoiding the disadvantages referred to. In said patent recesses are provided in the floor of the building and beds of standard rigid construction are nested, one beneath the other, when it is desired to convert one of two adjacent rooms into a living room and use the second room as a bedroom or bed storage space.

The companion beds herein described are particularly adapted for use in connection with a building wherein it is desired to use one of two adjacent rooms as a living room during the day and a. sleeping apartment during the night, and to use the other of said adjacent rooms as a room to store the beds during the day as well as during the night. However, the invention is not limited to use in connection with said type of building and is adaptablefor use wherever economy of floor space is found desirable. To the accomplishment of the Serial No. 832,551.

foregoing and related ends, then, consists of the means described and particularly claims. 7

T c annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mecha nism embodying the invention such disclosed means constituting, however, but several of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one of the companion bed units; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing two companion bed units in stored or nested position, the springs, mattresses and other appurtenances being in place; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the bed showing one form of counter-balancing mechanism; Figs. 4, 5, and 6, are similar views showing other forms of counter-balancing mechanism; Fig. 7 is an enlarged central sectional view of the central portion of the counter-balancingv mechanism; Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional view showing the series of spring elements shown in Fig. 4; Figs. 9 and 10 are elevations showing plunger legs for attachment to the bedstead; Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the plunger legs and the trigger latch and its associated mechanism; Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional View of the plunger leg taken through thecable pulley; Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional View of a bed corner taken through the center line of a clasp attachment and showing the pulley box in top viewFigf1l shows a part of the clasp attachment which is first adjusted and bolted to the upright corner postsof the bed; Fig. 15 is an elevation of the part shown in Fig. 14:; Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the channel form in the plunger leg to accommodate the operating cable and its pulley; Figs. 17 and 18 are enlarged sectional fragmentary views showing the means of guiding and positioning the cable adjacent the.

plunger leg; and Fig. 19 is an end view of said invention, hereinafter fully pointed out in the one of the hangers used along the operating,

cables to support and guide the trigger cords.

As will be most readily seen in Fig. 1, each of the companion bed units comprises a bed frame 1 of substantially standard design, excepting that the legs at each of the ends are abbreviated. The bedstead illustrated a metal bedstead although bedsteads of woodor of any period of'design may be constructed in accordance with the invention. The companion bed units may be of the same size, with extension legs fittcdto the inner and outer. sides'of the lower and upper beds, respectively, as shown 1n Fig. 2, or they may be made in graduated sizes.

As shown in the drawing, the bow frames 2, 3, forming the head and foot portions respectively of the bed, terminate a short distance below the side rails 4, 5, respectively. Upon each vertical portion of the head and foot members which constitute the end posts of the bed, telescoping leg mechanism is applied. The telescopic leg members may be placed within the corner posts of the bedstead or attached to the sides thereof. These telescoping or plunger legs are best illustrated in Figs. 9 to 11, and comprise the plunger leg proper and a sleeve portion 11 slidably engaging the'upper 'ends thereof, adapted to'be secured by means of a specially designed clasp 12 to the respective corner posts ofthe bed. The clasps are shown in detail in Figs. 13, 14, and 15, and comprise an inner and outer plate 13, 14, respectively, adapted to be secured to its designated corner posts by means of a headed bolt 15. The outer plate 14 is adapted to embrace two sides of the corner post when the latter is of rectangular cross-section and is provided with a flat face 16 positioned diagonally of the corner of the post to which it is applied. Adjacent the side edges of the flat face, grooves 17 are provided upon each side face of said plate, which grooves are adapted to be engaged by appropriately shaped terminal edges on clamping members 21 adapted to be secured thereto by means of bolts 22 extending through said clamping members and having their central portions resting in transverse recesses 23 formed in the outer supporting plates 14. The outer ends of the clamping members are of concave shape and are adapted to embrace the sleeve 11 of the telescoping or plunger leg. Thus it will be noted that manufactures of beds of standard design may supply a bed of the type herein described by shortening the standard legs thereon and applying the plunger legs in the manner just described. Within the sleeve the main portion of the plunger leg 25 is received. As is clearly shown in Fig.

11,-the upper portion of the main section of the plunger leg is provided with a recess 26 within which the upper end of a cable 27 is adapted to be secured by means of a set screw 28 operating in a screw-threaded aperture 29 at right angles to said recess. A

channel 31 is provided at one side of the plunger leg to accommodate the cable which is extended downwardly from its upper end and about a pulley, 32 mounted in a box 33 adjacent the lower end of the sleeve. The

method of supporting the pulley upon the sleeve' is illustrated in Fig. 12 and comprises a metal strap 34 curved to extend about the sleeve and having apertured extension ends 35 through which a two-part fastening member 36 is adapted to extend. Said fastening member has a cylindrical central section serving as the axle of the pulley and a ositioning and holding means for the pulley iiox. Immediately beneath the pulley box a sleeve 41 is provided for housing the trigger latch mechanism of the device, This mechanism comprises a latch bar 42 provided adjacent its forward end with a shoulder 43 against which an expansion coil spring 44 housed within said sleeve is adapted to bear. An annular plug 45 screwed into the rear end of the sleeve serves as an abutment for the other end of said spring. The rear ward end of the trigger bar is provided with an eye 46 within wh ch is fastened a trigger cord 47. The plunger leg is provided with a plurality of recesses, 51, 52, formed in the bottom of the channel provided for the operating cable. These recesses are of a size suitable to be engaged by the forward end of the latch bar which thus serves to lock the sliding portion of the plunger leg in its uppermost and lowermost position. A tapered axial socket 53 provided in the bot tom of the plunger leg to receive the extension shank of the castor 54 which may be of the standard construction. A set screw 55 is shown in Fig. 11 engaged within a recess 56 disposed at right angles to said tapered socket 53 and may be adjusted to securely clamp the castor in operative relation to the plunger leg.

As is shown in Fig. 17, a tongue strip 61 may be inserted within the sleeve to serve as a means for centering the operating cable and guiding the plunger leg in its travel up and down in said sleeve. In Fig. 18 is illustrated a modified form of means for maintaining the operating cable in a central position, said means eomprisin r a pair of studs 62 having their inner en s rounded and provided with screw-threaded sections adjacent their base whereby the operating cable may be maintained in position and the plunger leg guided upand down in the sleeve.

As is shown in Fig. 1 particularly the counter-balancing means for facilitat ng the ready adjustment of the horizontal portion of the bed to different heights comprises a spring and cable mechanism appropriately supported beneath the usual position of the bed spring. As is shown in Fig. 1, the central portions of the side rails of the bed are connected by means of a cross-bar 71. Centrally of this bar, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 7 an upstanding stud 72 is provided which serves as a shaft upon which a pair of superposed pulley wheels 73, 74. are adapted to turn. The lower end of said stud projects downwardly and is fastened to the till base of a channeled guide bar 94, hereinafter to be described. The upper pulley wheel 73 is provided with an extension sector 75 having a grooved flange within which is secured the main power applying cable 76 for said pulley. The opposite end of said cable is extended over a pulley 77 supported upon a bracket 78 secured to one of the side rails 4 and is securely fastened to one end of a coil spring 79 extending parallel to said side rail and having its other end attached to a bracket 81 secured to the opposite end of said side rail. The main portion of the pulley 73 is provided with a groove of adequate size to receive four operating cables 27 which extend to the respective plunger legs at the respective corners of the bed, as has been heretofore mentioned. The outer ends of said operating cables are secured within the recesses formed in the ends of each of said lunger legs and the inner ends of said cabl zes are secured, atappropriately spaced points, to the pulley wheel 73. It will readily appear that any desired fastening means for the cables may be employed.

Upon each of the operating cables 27 a plurality of hangers 81 is secured, said hangers serving to sustain and guide the trigger cords 47 extending to the respective latch bars 42, as heretofore described. The inner ends of said trig er cords are secured at appropriately spaced intervals about the grooved periphery of the second pulley 74 mounted upon the stud 72 and may thus be operated simultaneously to release said latch bars from the recesses 51, or 52, in the plun er legs with which they may be engage The means for operating the pulley 74 comprises a lever arm 82 secured to said pulley and pivotally connected at its outer end with an o crating bar or trigger 83,

which extends rom said counter-balancing.

mechanism to a convenient position upon one of the side rails of the bed. Thus, by shifting said tri ger bar the latch bars may be simultaneous y withdrawn from the recesses in the plunger legs and the body portion of the bed will thus be left free for movement in a vertical direction. It is intended to have the tension upon the spring so ad'usted that the body portion of the bed will be normally maintained at an intermediate position between the two limits of adjustment indicated by the respective recesses 51, 52, in the plunger legs. Thus, by merely releasing the trigger, the horizontal portion of the bed willniove one-half the distance in the reverse direction and only a small degree of pressure or lifting tension will be required to move the same the balance of the desired distance. Furthermore, the pressure or lifting tension, as the case may be, according to the direction of motion in which it is desired to move the body portion of the bed, may be applied at practically any point about the bed frame, inasmuch as the counter-balancing mechanism serves to equalize the power and distribute the same to the several moving parts.

In the form of construction illustrated in Fig.- 8, the supporting members for the central mechanismcomprises a cross-bar 91, as well as a pair of diagonal bars 92, 93, and an inverted U-shaped channel-bar 94:. The channel-bar is adapted to engage over the upstanding side of an angle bar 100, the other side of which is fastened to the floor, at a point where it is desired to store the bed unit so equipped. This feature of my invention is more fully disclosed in the com panion application heretofore referred to.

The coil spring 90 shown in Fig. 3 is preferably housed within a guard member 95, which serves to protect anyone handling the bed from injury. In the form of construction illustrated in Fig. 4, a plurality of coil springs is utilized to supply the power for counter-balancing the weight of the body portion of the bed. In said construction the springs 101 are supported upon a curved frame member 102, secured -at its ends to one of the side rails 103 of the bed and supported centrally upon a cross-bar 104. An inverted U-shaped channel-bar 105 may also be employed. The inner spring of the series is secured at one end to said curved support by means of a cable 106 and at its other end is connected with a cable 107 extending over a pulley 108 supported on the other end of said curved support. The free end of the cable 107 is connected with the second of said series of springs and each of the other spring members is similarly connected by cables extending over pulleys supported on the curved supporting member. The free end of the outer member of the series of springs is connected with one end of the power applying cable 109 which is connected with the expansion segment of the pulley. Thus, when the springs of the series are placed under tension, they assume the dotted line positions indicated in Fig. 4:. It is obvious that when a plurality of springs is employed, the movement of each of the springs is less in degree than wherebut one spring is utilized.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 8, an enclosed casing 110 may be placed about the springs to protect the mechanism associated therewith and to guard againstaccidental injury through contact therewith.

In Fig. 5' is illustrated a spiral type of spring 111, the other parts of the mechanism being substantially the same as what is disclosed in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated still another modified form of spring, the spiral spring 112 in this case being mounted in a separate casing 113 and having a power applying cable 114 extending from the periphery of said casing to an enlarged disc 115 secured to the central pulley 116. The other parts of the mechanism are substantially the same as those shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. A construction of the characterv described having in combination a companion bed unit having corner posts, end members and side rails, means disposed at the bed corners and in the plane of the side rails for vertically adjusting said unit, and unitary counter-balancing means in the plane of said siderails.

2. A construction of the character described'having in combination a companion bed unit having corner posts, end members and side rails, means disposed at the bed corners and in the plane of the side rails for vertically adjusting said unit, and countor-balancing means disposed in the plane of the side rails for allowing said unit to be elevated or lowered with slight effort;

3. A construction of the character described having in combination a companion bed unit having corner posts, end members and side rails, means disposed at the bed corners and in the plane of the side'rails for vertically adjusting said unit, counterbalancing means disposed in the plane of the side rails for allowing said unit tobe elevated or lowered with slight effort, and means for lockingsaid adjustable unit in elevated or lowered position.

1. A bed adapted to be elevated or lowered, comprising a frame upon which the spring and mattress are to be supported, an extensible leg at each corner of said frame, means for extending or retracting said legs to position said frame a greater or lesser distance from the floor, and counterbalancing means disposed in the plane of the side rails to permit said adjustment to be made with slight efi'ort.

A bed adapted tolbe elevated'or lowered, comprising a frame upon which the spring and mattress are to be supported, a detachable housing at each corner of the frame in which an extensible leg is housed, means for extending or retracting said legs to position said frame a greater or lesser distance from the floor, and counterbalancing means for permitting said adjustment to be made with slight eifo rt.

6. A bed adapted to be elevated or lowered, comprising a frame upon which the spring and mattress areto be supported, a

detachable housing at each corner of the frame in which an extensible leg is housed, means for extending or retracting said legs to position said frame a greater or lesser distance from the floor, unitary counterbalancing means for permitting said adjustment to be made with slight effort, and means for locking said legs against movement.

7. A bed adapted to be elevated or lowered, comprising a frame upon which the spring and mattress are to be supported, a detachable housing at each corner of the frame in which an extensible leg is housed, means for extending or retracting said legs to position said. frame a reater or lesser distance from the floor, unitary counterbalancing means for permitting said adjustment to be made with slight efi'ort,means for locking said legs against movement, and common means for operating the locking means for said legs.

8. A bed adapted to be elevated or lowered, comprising a frame including side rails, a detachable housing at each corner of the frame in which an extensible leg is housed, means for extending or retracting said legs to position said frame a greater or lesser distance from the floor, and counterbalancing means disposed in substantially the plane of the side rails for permitting said adjustment to be made with slight effort.

9. A bed adapted to be elevated and lowered, comprising a horizontal bed frame, vertical head and foot frames secured to the respective ends of said horizontal frame, a tubular sleeve secured to each end post of said vertical frames, a plunger leg slidably mounted within each of said sleeves, an operating cable connected with the upper end of each of said plunger legs, a cable pulley secured to said sleeve adjacent its lower en and means positioned centrally of the bed frame for applying tension to each of said operating cables.

10. A bed adapted to be elevated and lowered, comprising a horizontal bed frame, vertical head and foot frames secured to the respective ends of said horizontal frame, a tubular sleeve secured to each end post of said vertical frames, a plunger leg slidably mounted within each of said sleeves, an operating cable connected with the upper end of each of said plunger legs, a cable pulley secured tosaid sleeve adjacent its lower end, and pulley mechanism positioned centrally of said horizontal frame in the plane of the side rails for applying tension to each of said operating cables.

11. A bed adapted to be elevated and lowered, comprising a horizontal bed frame,

vertical head and foot frames secured to the respective ends of said horizontal frame, a

tubular sleeve secured to each end post of said vertical frame, a plunger leg slidably mounted Within each of said sleeves, an operating cable connected with the upper end of each of said plunger legs, a cable pulley secured to said sleeve adjacent its lower end, a pair of superposed pulley wheels positioned centrally of said horizontal frame, means securing the inner ends of said} operating cables at spaced points to the periphery of one of said pulley wheels, and a power applying cable having one end secured to the periphery of said second pulley wheel, a spring mechanism having one portion anchored to said horizontal bed frame and having another portion connected with said power appl ing cable.

12. A bed adapted to be elevated and lowered, comprising a horizontal bed frame, vertical head and foot frames secured to the respective ends of said horizontal frame, a tubular sleeve secured to each end post of said vertical frames, a plunger leg slidably mounted within each of said sleeves, locking recesses formed adjacent the upper and lower ends of said plunger legs, latch mechanism mounted adjacent the lower ends of said sleeves, an operating cable connected with the upper end of each of said plunger legs, a cable pulley secured to said sleeve adjacent its lower end, pulley mechanism positioned centrally of said horizontal frame for applying tension to each of said operating cables, and means for simultaneously operating each of said latch mechanisms.

Signed by me, this 5th day ofApril, 1923.

HENRY B. LITTLEFIELD. 

